Pinakbet (or Pakbet)

Pinakbet or pakbet is a popular Ilocano dish hailing from the northern regions of the Philippines. Pinakbet means shrunk or shriveled. It is considered as a very healthy dish consisting of basic vegetables such as native bitter melon, eggplant, tomato, ginger, okra, string beans and others.

1. In a saucepan, arrange the vegetables in the following order: squash, string beans, ampalaya, okra, patani, eggplant, tomatoes, ginger, garlic and onions.2. Top with bagnet (or pork) and bagoong (fish paste).3. Add water. Cover and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer.4. Slowly stir with a ladle to make sure that all portions are cooked.5. Simmer until almost all the liquid is conserve hot. Good for four.